The invention relates to a bearing element, a universal joint and an offshore construction, comprising such a bearing element. The bearing element comprises a rotation axis, a rotation body concentric with and rotatable around said axis, the rotation body defining a circumferential trajectory around said rotation axis, a curved slide member, supported on the rotation body and slidable along said rotation body along the circumferential trajectory, the slide member comprising an abutment surface extending substantially in a direction transverse to the rotation axis, a shear element, supported on the rotation body along a part of the circumferential trajectory, and comprising an outer layer and an inner layer movable with respect to each other around the rotation axis, the inner layer being fixedly connected to the rotation body and an abutment surface substantially extending in a transverse direction, and a housing part rotatable around said axis and fixedly connected to the slide member and to the outer layer of the shear element, wherein, upon rotation of the housing around said axis, the slide member is moved along the circumferential trajectory until the slide member abutment surface contacts the shear member abutment surface and a rotational force is transmitted from the housing, via the abutment surfaces to the inner layer.